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Choosing Paper

Hello, and thanks for stopping by. Whenever I explain what I do for a living, I tell people that I put ink on paper. There was a time when I would tell people all kinds of fancy things to make my profession sound sexier. At the end of the day, I really just put ink on paper. So in honor of my profession, here’s a super simple guide to paper usage. Let me know what you think, and check back often. Thanks,

Jeff.

What Paper Do I use?

To get the best results, you want to use the right paper for the job.

Paper finishes have two basic attributes – smoothness, and gloss. Smoothness is the evenness of the surface, gloss is the degree of shine.

Gloss

Gloss Paper reflects the maximum amount of light back to the eye for the most vivid color. The smooth surface of a gloss sheet allows each tiny dot of ink to sit up on top of the surface for the most detailed images, and a smooth lay down of dark solids, and metallic inks.

Gloss is your best choice for all things shiny. Think water, jewelry, cosmetics, dinnerware, and more.

Dull

Soft finished papers like dulls, and mattes provide warmth, depth, and a great tactile feel. Good papers only allow a tiny bit of ink to absorb into the surface. This makes for a tactile feel, and good readability.